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Zagreb travel guide

Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is the country's economic centre
and the gateway to Western Europe. The picturesque city is situated
on the slopes of Medvednica Mountain, along the banks of the Sava
River, in the north of Croatia.

The core of Zagreb consists of the Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and
Donji Grad (Lower Town). The Upper Town is home to the
well-preserved medieval city, known as Gradec and Kaptol, while the
residential area covers the southern slopes of the Medvednica
Mountains. Since the 1950s the city has grown appreciably to the
south of the Sava River, and the main industrial area is in the
southeast.

Besides being a commercial hub Zagreb is a popular tourist
centre, and an established international conference venue. Zagreb
has a history dating back nearly a thousand years but it is also an
efficient modern city; it is rich in historical monuments, museums
and galleries, has modern shops, restaurants, sport and recreation
facilities, and good transport infrastructure. The city's tourist
attractions are largely historical, ranging from the Palaeolithic
Veternica Cave, through the vestiges of Roman culture, to the
fascinating medieval old town.

Zagreb is well-situated as a springboard for exploring the
picturesque medieval towns of northern Croatia, including Samobor,
Vrbovec and Karlovac. There are also great hiking opportunities on
nearby Medvednica Mountain, which casts its 3,280-foot (1,000m)
shadow over the pretty city.

Near the village of Scitarjevo, close to Zagreb, are the remains
of the ancient Roman town of Andautonia, which have been excavated
and provide a fascinating tourist excursion. Andautonia was a
prominent administrative, economic, cultural and religious centre
about 400 years ago. Archaeologists are still excavating the site,
but at the Andautonia Archaeological Park visitors can view a
26,910-square-foot (2,500 sq m) area of the Roman City including
parts of the main street, city baths, colonnades and side streets.
There is a museum at the site which exhibits artefacts from the
Greek and Roman history of the area. Tourists can also visit the
present-day village of Scitarjevo, which offers examples of typical
rural farms with their characteristic wooden houses.

The building that houses Croatia's history is itself a part of
that history. Situated in the historical town centre, it is the
beautiful Baroque palace, Vojkovic-Orsic-Rauch, built at the end of
the 18th century and formerly the private residence of three
successive baronial families. In the late 1930s the palace became
the residence of Zagreb's mayors, before being designated as a
repository for the historical relics of the city. It currently
houses more than 140,000 artefacts in various collections, from
stone monuments to fine art, religious artefacts to heraldry.

The exhibitions in this museum are not permanent but constantly
changing so that all the collections get an airing. This means that
it is possible to visit the museum many times and never tire of the
exhibitions. The artefacts are grouped into 17 collections which
include a map collection, a coin collection, a collection of
religious items, a collection of stone monuments, a military
uniforms collection and a weapons collection, among other things.
It is a small museum but the exhibitions are thorough and
interesting.

The building housing the Croatian National Theatre (commonly
referred to as the HNK Zagreb) is as much a national treasure as
the world-class theatre, opera, music and ballet productions that
take place on its stage. Construction began on the theatre building
in 1894. Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac painted the ceremonial
curtain while Viennese artist Alexander Goltz decorated the ceiling
of the auditorium. The building was officially opened by
Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz-Joseph I at the end of 1895. The
theatre is owned and operated by the Croatian Ministry of Culture
and it is constantly busy with full performing arts programmes. At
the entrance to the theatre visitors can see the famed wall
fountain called "The Source of Life", designed by Croatian artist
and sculptor Ivan Meštrovic in 1905.

The Croatian National Theatre has hosted famous artists and
performers from all over the world and culture vultures shouldn't
miss seeing a show. If travelling with a group, the mezzanine boxes
are a wonderful way to experience the performances together. Even
if you don't have time to catch a world-class ballet or opera, it
is worth walking by the HNK Zagreb to see the building itself.

Praska Street, in the lower part of old Zagreb, leads on to a
sequence of attractive park squares, each flaunting their own
attractions and worth a walking tour. Zrinski Square features a
music pavilion dating from 1895 and fountains, with the
Archaeological Museum at No.17. This square also features a row of
busts of distinguished Croatians and the palace of the Croatian
Academy of Arts and Sciences (1876), which houses the Strossmayer
Gallery of old masters. On Strossmayer Square is a monument to
bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, founder of the academy, and several
other historic buildings.

Tomislav Square features the Art Pavilion, fronted by a monument
to Croatian Renaissance painter Andrija Medulic. King Tomislav
rises on horseback at the southern end of the square. Starcevic
Square is home to the City Library and Hotel Esplanade, and gives
access to the Botanical Gardens and Frane Bulic Monument. In
Marulic Square the University Library building stands as a
magnificent example of Art Nouveau architecture. Mimara Museum is
on Roosevelt Square, and the neo-Baroque Croatian National Theatre
stands on Marshal Tito Square. Any or all of these squares are
worthy of attention and it is best to just stroll around them all,
camera in hand.

Tourist attractions in Zagreb are manifold. The area with the
greatest concentration of things to see in Zagreb is the old town,
where a stroll through the cobbled streets is in itself an
experience. One of the main attractions in Zagreb's delightful
medieval centre is the Croatian History Museum, which is housed in
an 18th-century Baroque palace called Vojkovic-Orsic-Rauch. There
is a sequence of town squares, at the end of Praska Street in the
old town, which are a must-see for visitors; each square boasts its
own historical features and attractions, making the area a
veritable party pack for tourists.

For those intrigued by ancient history, the Roman town of
Andautonia is close to Zagreb and well worth a visit. This very
interesting archaeological site has excavations open to the public
and an informative little museum where artefacts from the town and
greater region have been collected. For a walk through centuries of
Zagreb's proud but turbulent history visit the Mirogoj Cemetery.
Many prominent Croatians are buried here and it is said to be one
of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe.

Another popular attraction in the city is the off-the-wall
Museum of Broken Relationships, which won an award in 2011 for
being the most innovative museum in Europe. As the name suggests
this museum collects and displays mementos from failed
relationships from all over the world. Each item is displayed with
a story, some funny, some sad, some touching. It certainly is not a
typical museum experience but people are flocking to see these
ordinary objects and read the stories that make them significant,
and the museum is earning rave reviews.

For a break from the bustle of the city go hiking or biking on
Medvednica Mountain, which looms above Zagreb, and promises
beautiful scenery and numerous well-maintained trails. From several
vantage points on the mountain you can get impressive views of the
city below.

Trakoscan Castle

Trakoscan is a legendary 13th-century Gothic castle that was
home to various influential families for centuries before finally
falling into abandoned disrepair in the second half of the 18th
century, when it belonged to the Draskovic family. In the 1950s the
castle was taken over by the state and turned into a living museum,
reconstructing life in a medieval castle. Visitors can explore four
levels, including the dungeon, and finish their exploration by
enjoying the surrounding parklands.

Trakoscan Castle is a spectacular journey for the imagination as
it feels so authentic and you can wander with remarkable freedom
through the stone corridors, up and down the winding staircases and
into the numerous rooms. It is a great attraction to enjoy with
kids because they particularly love exploring the castle; with the
lake and forest setting it really does appear to be straight out of
a fairytale or a medieval romance. The castle contains original
artefacts from its history, including furniture and weaponry, and
the displays are informative and well laid out. As wandering
through the castle, and its beautiful grounds, can be somewhat
tiring, you may want to stop for a break at the restaurant by the
lake.

The Plitvice Lakes have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and the national park that encloses them is the oldest in
Southeast Europe (founded in 1949). It is the natural beauty of the
16 green and turquoise lakes, linked by waterfalls and surrounded
by forests, that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Wooden
walkways meander over, around and across the magical watery setting
that was formed by mineral deposits in the water creating
travertine barriers within the constantly changing limestone
landscape. The lakes are divided into lower and upper lakes and
trails are well marked. Visitors can cover the 11 miles (18km) of
walkways on foot, but the park entry ticket also includes the use
of buses and ferries to cover certain sections.

The incredible lakes are not all the park has to offer; it is a
heavily forested area with an extremely diverse variety of flora
and fauna, including rare European species like the brown bear and
wolf. It is one of the last regions in Europe in which these two
species can be found living in the wild. Some may recognise the
area from the film adaptations of Karl May's Westerns, which were
filmed here in the 1960s and 70s.

The commercial capital of the idyllic Adriatic coast is the
cultural city and holiday destination of Rijeka, which has an
international harbour that lends it a cosmopolitan flair. Rijeka is
not only the gateway to the beautiful coastal island resorts, but a
tourist's delight in itself with its charming historic buildings. A
stroll along the Korzo Promenade in the old part of town provides
an eyeful of classic buildings and a variety of street cafes ideal
for resting your feet and enjoying the passing parade. Rijeka also
has an annual carnival full of lively music and dancing, involving
plenty of ancient Slavic folklore and mythology. Revellers don
masks to scare away evil forces and a good time is had by all in
numerous events, concerts and the carnival parade.

There is plenty to eat, drink, see and do in this vibrant port
city. The best way to see Rijeka's cultural and historical
attractions is to follow the well-worn tourist path that takes in
all of the most important sights of the town. Most of them are
accessible by foot, as they are located in or near the city centre
(parts of which are not even accessible to traffic). Although, to
see the remarkable Trsat Castle you will have to either hire
transport or climb the formidable stone steps from the city centre
to the castle. It is certainly worth it.

The largest island in Croatia, Krk (pronounced kirk) is a haven
of sparkling beaches and lovely holiday towns. Nicknamed the
'Golden Island', Krk is the nearest Croatian island to mainland
Europe and has a laid-back Mediterranean atmosphere.

Getting to Krk from the mainland is made easy by a 4,500-foot
(1.4km) bridge. Once there, visitors are spoiled for choice as
there are many beaches and villages to explore. Krk Town is the
largest and most popular hub for tourists with many restaurants,
shops and bars in the attractive Old Town area.

The best beaches in Krk are found in Baska, which boasts more
than 30 beaches connected by a promenade. Though most are covered
in pebbles, soft mats and chairs are available for hire. Other
popular beach towns on Krk include Njivice and the sandy coastline
of Klimno Bay, though many towns have more to offer than just
beaches. Vrbnik is home to vineyards that produce some of the best
white wines in Croatia, while the August folk festival in Dobrinj
draws crowds from all over Croatia.

Krk Island is popular for weekend excursions from the Croatian
mainland; however, visitors can easily spend a week exploring the
winding streets and hidden corners of the island. A paradise for
summer watersports, diving, bird watching and hiking, there are
many things to see and do on Krk for just about anyone.

Location: The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) southeast of
Zagreb.Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in
March to end October).Contacts: Tel: +385 (0)1 45 62 222. Email: info@zagreb-airport.hr

Getting to the city: A convenient bus shuttle operates between the airport and the
Central Bus Station in Zagreb, running from about 7am until 8pm and
scheduled to meet arriving flights. The journey takes roughly 30
minutes.Car rental: Car rental agencies at the airport include Hertz, Dollar and
Europcar, among others.Airport Taxis: Taxis are available outside the terminal. Facilities: The airport has a bank, post office, tourist information kiosk,
24-hour left luggage services, business lounge, conference
facilities, and shops selling souvenirs and luxury products
(including duty-free). There is also a restaurant and a few
cafes. Parking: Parking lots P1 and P3 charge HRK 27 per hour, up to a daily
maximum of HRK 150. Lot P2 charges HRK 19 per hour, up to a daily
maximum of HRK 130. Website:www.zagreb-airport.hr

Pula Airport

Location: The airport is located four miles (about 6km) northeast
of the city of Pula.Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Saturday in
March to end October).Contacts: Tel: 060 308 308

Getting to the city: A bus service connects the airport to the station in Pula.Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Sixt and
Alamo.Airport Taxis: Taxis are available outside the arrivals area. Facilities: Facilities include ATMs, bureaux de change, restaurants and
cafés, internet access, a nursery, and duty-free shopping. Parking: Short- and long-term public parking available. Departure tax: None. Website:www.airport-pula.hr

Zagreb has a compact city centre with all the main sights and
places of interest for visitors in close proximity to the major
hotels. Walking is therefore a good option for getting around in
Zagreb. Those who need to travel further afield can make use of the
highly efficient tram system, which has frequent services
throughout the city connecting bus and train stations and the main
square, Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica. Four tram routes also operate
throughout the night. Each ticket gives you 90 minutes of travel,
starting from when you first climb aboard and validate the ticket
in a machine. The alternative public transport is public buses.
Particularly useful is the inexpensive bus connection to the
airport from the city centre. There is a plentiful supply of taxis
in Zagreb, particularly at major hotels and the airport. Fares are
negotiable and it is always best to agree on a fare before setting
off, if the taxi is not metered. Many tourists like to rent cars
when they travel in Croatia as the road system is very good -
Zagreb is a fairly easy city to negotiate by car.

The climate varies quite substantially between the Croatian
coastal regions and the interior. The climate of Zagreb is
continental, with four separate seasons. Summers (June to August)
are hot and dry, and winters (November to February) are cold. The
average temperature in winter is 34°F (1°C) and the average
temperature in summer is 70°F (21°C), although it can get much
hotter. In fact, the interior can feel much hotter than the coast
due to the lack of cool sea breezes. The end of May, particularly,
gets very warm, with temperatures rising to 86ºF (30°C) and up.
Snowfall is common in the winter months, from December to March,
and rain and fog are common in autumn (September to November).

The most popular time to visit Zagreb is in the peak summer
months, when tourists are flocking to Croatia for the sun and sea
on the coast. Possibly the best time to visit the city, however, is
in spring (March to April) when the weather is slightly less hot
and the city is less crowded and usually less expensive.